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Rescreen / Free tools / SRT to VTT converter

SRT to VTT converter

Turn SRT subtitles into WebVTT for a web video player, or WebVTT back into SRT. Paste them or drop a file: the direction is detected, every timestamp is checked, and anything the other format cannot hold is listed before you download. Nothing leaves this page.

Your subtitles

or drop it here · up to 10 MB

A file that starts with WEBVTT is converted to SRT; anything else is read as SRT and converted to WebVTT.

Converted

How to convert SRT to VTT

From an SRT file to captions a web video player can show.

  1. Add your subtitles

    Choose or drop a .srt file, or paste its text into the box.

  2. Let it check and convert

    The converter reads each cue, checks its start and end times, and writes WebVTT: a WEBVTT line at the top, and a full stop instead of a comma before the milliseconds.

  3. Read the notes

    Read the notes under the result. They say what was skipped and why, and any styling WebVTT cannot hold.

  4. Download or copy

    Download the .vtt file (UTF-8) or copy it.

VTT to SRT works the same way: drop a .vtt file and you get SRT, numbered from 1.

Example

This SRT:

1
00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:04,000
Open <b>Settings</b> from the menu bar.

2
00:00:04,500 --> 00:00:08,250
Turn on weekly summaries,
then click Save.

becomes this WebVTT. The timings and text are the same; the header and the separator change.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:01.200 --> 00:00:04.000
Open <b>Settings</b> from the menu bar.

2
00:00:04.500 --> 00:00:08.250
Turn on weekly summaries,
then click Save.

SRT vs WebVTT

SRT (.srt)WebVTT (.vtt)
First lineThe first cueWEBVTT
Timestamp00:01:02,50000:01:02.500 (hours optional)
Cue numbersRequired, 1, 2, 3 …Optional, any name
Text styling<b>, <i>, <u>, <font><b>, <i>, <u>, classes styled with CSS
SpeakersWritten into the text<v Name> tags
PlacementNot standardCue settings such as line:0 and align:start
CommentsNoneNOTE blocks
HTML5 videoNot supported by <track>The format <track> plays

A web page’s <video> element only reads WebVTT captions, which is the usual reason to convert SRT. Most video platforms accept either format; check the upload page for the one you use.

What does not carry over

SRT to VTT keeps bold, italic and underline. It removes, and tells you it removed:

  • <font> colour and size tags — the words stay; WebVTT styles text with CSS.
  • Positioning codes such as {\an8} and SRT pixel coordinates.

VTT to SRT keeps bold, italic and underline, and removes:

  • The header metadata, STYLE, REGION and NOTE blocks.
  • Cue settings, so every cue shows at the player’s default position.
  • Speaker tags with their names, class and language tags, and word-by-word karaoke timestamps. The words stay.
  • Ruby annotations become brackets: 漢字(かんじ).

Text that only looks like HTML — <script>, or a sum like 1 < 2 — is kept as text in both directions.

Broken timestamps and plain text

Each cue’s times must read hours:minutes:seconds and three digits of milliseconds, with minutes and seconds under 60 and the end no earlier than the start. A cue that fails is skipped and listed with its line number, so you can fix it in the original and convert again. The converter never guesses a time: 00:00:01,5 could mean 5 or 500 milliseconds, so it is refused rather than read either way. Text with no timings at all is refused too — a converter cannot know when the words are spoken.

Captions for a screen recording

Captions on a tutorial are instructions, so check the names, numbers and shortcuts against what the screen shows. How to make a tutorial video covers reviewing captions with the picture, and removing filler words explains why captions need rechecking after an edit moves the timing.

Limitations

  • It converts between SRT and WebVTT only. It does not read or write ASS/SSA, TTML, SCC or SBV.
  • It does not create, transcribe, translate or retime subtitles.
  • Files are read as UTF-8, or UTF-16 with a byte-order mark. A file that is neither is read as Windows-1252 (common for older Windows subtitles), and the page says so — check accented letters.
  • Downloads are UTF-8 without a byte-order mark. SRT uses Windows line endings, which every SRT reader accepts; WebVTT uses plain line endings.
  • Up to 10 MB per file — far more than a feature film’s subtitles.

Is anything uploaded?

No. The file is read and converted by this page in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere. We count anonymous page views and whether a conversion and a download happened; those events never include the subtitles or the file name. See the privacy policy.

Frequently asked questions

Does it change the timing?

No. Every cue keeps its start and end to the millisecond; only the way the time is written changes.

Can I convert VTT to SRT?

Yes. Drop or paste a file that starts with WEBVTT and you get SRT. Placement and styling SRT cannot hold are listed before you download.

Why does my file say “read as SRT”?

WebVTT files must start with WEBVTT. Without it the text is read as SRT. If it is WebVTT, add that line at the top and paste it again.

Which browsers does it work in?

Current Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox, on a computer or a phone. It only uses standard text and file features; we have tested it in Chrome on desktop and at phone screen sizes.

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